Machine gun mount



3 She ts-Sheet 1 G. IRONSIDE .Z'rahside MACHINE sun MOUNT Filed Sept. 9, 1938 Aug. 6, 1940.

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MACHINE Gun MOUNT Filed Sept. 9, 1938 5 SheetS Sheet 2 Jim ant 0.2" 5E argafiansjds Aug. 6, 1 G. IRONSIDE MACHINE GUN MOUNT -Fi-l-ed Sept. 9, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Invent 0r Feargsfiansfde g %tt arngy Patented Aug. 6, 1940 U N I T E D S T MACHINE GUN MOUNT necticut Application September 9, 1938, Serial No. 229,141

5 Claims.

The invention relates to machine gun mounts, and more particularly to mounts which are intended to be used for both ground and anti-aircraft firing.

One object of the invention-is to provide a mount of the above character with two ammunition magazine supporting means, one being properly positioned for use for ground firing and the other being properly positioned and movably secured to the mount for use for anti-aircraft fir- From the following specification further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown the now preferred embodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that the drawings are intended for illustrative purposes only and are not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for that purpose. I

In the drawings:

Fig. l is an elevational View of the right side of a mount incorporating the principles of the invention with a machine gun mounted thereon in ground firing position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that of Fig. 1 but showing the left side, the tripod being omitted.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view, partly in section, of the rearward portion of the cradle taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevational view similar to that of Fig. 1, the cradle being shown in its anti-aircraft firing position.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to that of Fig. 4 but showing left side.

Fig. I is a View similar to that of Fig. 6 but showing the machine gun in a high-angle firing position.

The phrase ground firing is used herein to designate that type of fire in which the line of sight is substantially horizontal, and the phrase anti-aircraft firing is used to designate that type of fire in which the line of sight is at a relatively high angle such as when firing at aircraft. In both instances the phrases are used merely for the purpose of description and not limitation.

Referring to the drawings, G indicates a machine gun which may be of any desired type, although for the purposes of this specification I have illustrated a gun of the type shown inthe (C1. sac-40) The illustrated support comprises a tripod 2 and a head 3. The head is secured to the tripod and is rotatable about the axis of a pintle 4, any suitable means such as a clamping nut 5 being provided for locking the head to the tripod in any desired horizontal angular position.

The cradle I includes two main side plates 6 which are secured to each other in spaced relationship in any suitable manner. A pin 1 serves to pivotally secure the cradle to the head. The side plates 6 preferably include circular segmental portions 8 which are adapted to be clamped by the head of a bolt 9 and a clamping nut II) to thus hold the cradle in a plurality of ground firing positions.

For ground firing the gun is preferably mounted as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. A main trunnion pin it which extends through openings constituting gun trunnion bearings in the cradle side plates 6 and through the main trunnion bearing of the gun pivotally secures the gun to the cradle.

A pin 52 serves to secure the rear portion of the gun to a block l3 adjustably supported between the side plates 6 by a screw I4. An ammunition magazine supporting means such as bracket I5 is secured to one of the cradle side plates 6 adjacent the trunnion pin hearing. The bracket I5 serves to support an ammunition box M in proper relationship with respect to the feed channel C in the gun.

When the gun is to be used for anti-aircraft firing the pins II and [2 are removed to permit:

dismounting of the gun from the cradle. The cradle is then swun to the position shown in Fig. 4 and locked in this position by any desired means, although I have shown an automatic locking mechanism which will be described hereinafter. The cradle side plates 6 are provided with gun trunnion bearings adjacent their rearward ends. A trunnion pin i6 serves to pivotally mount the gun as shown in Fig. 4. The pin It is preferably threaded for securement to an;

trated the bracket i8 is pivotally supported by a nut l9 threaded onto the boss I1, the nut having a bearing surface 20 on the exterior thereof and the bearing surface being concentric with the axis of trunnion pin I6. A pin 2| serves to connect bracket 18 and the gun so that pivotal movement of the gun effects corresponding pivotal movement of the bracket to thus keep the ammunition box always properly related to the gun feed channel C (see Fig. 7 for example). A guide bracket 22 is preferably secured to one of the cradle side plates 6 for engaging the lower arcuate edge of the ammunition magazine supporting bracket l8.

As previously stated, the mount is preferably so constructed as to include means for automatically locking the cradle in anti-aircraft firing position. In the illustrated mount a plunger 23 is slidably mounted in a hole 24 in the head 3 and is biased toward projected position by a spring 25. A screw 26 extending through a slot 21 in the plunger serves to limit the sliding movement of the latter. As the cradle is swung to its antiaircraft firing position the plunger 23 is projected into a hole 28 in one of the side plates 6. The plunger may be pushed out of the hole with a screw driver or empty cartridge case.

Various changes and modifications within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

What I claim is:

1. A mount for a machine gun for ground or anti-aircraft firing comprising in combination, a support, a cradle semi-permanently attached to and carried by the support, said cradle having gun trunnion bearings for supporting a gun for ground firing and for supporting the gun for movement independent of the cradle for antiaircraft firing, an ammunition magazine supporting means secured to said cradle and located adjacent the feed channel of the gun when mounted for ground firing, a second ammunition magazine supporting means movably secured to said cradle and located adjacent the feed channel of the gun when mounted for anti-aircraft firing, and means for connecting the second mentioned supporting means to the gun when the latter is mounted for anti-aircraft firing for causing corresponding movement of the gun and said supporting means whereby the two are always similarly relatively positioned.

2. A mount for a machine gun for ground or anti-aircraft firing comprising in combination, a support, a cradle semi-permanently attached to and movably carried by the support, said cradle having gun trunnion bearings for supporting a gun for ground firing and for supporting. the gun for pivotal movement independent of the cradle for anti-aircraft firing, means for locking the cradle to the support in a ground firing position or in a substantially vertical position for antiaircraft firing, anammunition magazine supporting means secured to said cradle and located adjacent the feed channel of the gun when. mounted for ground firing, a second ammunition magazine supporting means pivotally secured to said cradle concentrically with the pivotal support for said gun when mounted for anti-aircraft firing, and means for connecting the second mentioned supporting means to the gun when mounted for antiaircra ft firing for causing corresponding pivotal movement of the gun and said supporting means whereby the two are always similarly relatively positioned.

3. A mount fora machine gun for ground or anti-aircraft firing comprising in combination, a support, a cradle semi-permanently attached to and carried by the support, said cradle having gun trunnion bearings adjacent its forward end for supporting a gun for ground firing and having additional gun trunnion bearings adjacent its rearward end for supporting the gun for movement independent of the cradle for anti-aircraft firing, an ammunition magazine supporting means secured to said cradle adjacent the first mentioned gun. trunnion bearings for supporting an ammunition magazine when the gun is mounted for ground firing, a second ammunition magazine supporting means movably secured to said cradle adjacent said second mentioned gun trunnion bearings for supporting an ammunition magazine when the gun is mounted for antiaircraft firing, and means for connecting the said second supporting means tothe gun when the latter is mounted for anti-aircraft firing for causcorresponding movement of the gun and said supporting means whereby the two are always similarly relatively positioned.

4. A mount for a machine gun for ground or anti-aircraft firing comprising in combination, a support, a cradle semi-permanently attached to and movably carried by the support, said cradle having gun trunnion bearings adjacent its forward end for supporting a gun for ground firing and having additional gun trunnion bearings adjacent its rearward end for supporting the gun for pivotal movement independent of the cradle for anti-aircraft firing, means for locking the cradle to the support in a ground firing position or in a substantially vertical position for anti-aircraft firing, an ammunition magazine supporting means secured to said cradle and located adjacent the feed channel of the gun when mounted for ground firing, a second ammunition magazine supporting means pivotally secured to said cradle concentrically with the said additional gun trunnion bearings, and means for connecting the said second mentioned supporting means to the gun when mounted for anti-aircraft firing for causing corresponding pivotal movement of the gun and said supporting means whereby the two are always similarly relatively positioned.

5. A mount for a machine gun for ground or anti-aircraft firing comprising in combination, a support, a cradle semi-permanently attached to and movably carried by the support, said cradle including spaced rigid side plates having gun trunnion bearings therein adjacent their forward ends for supporting a gun. for ground firing and having additional gun trunnion bearings therein adjacent their rearward ends for supporting a gun for pivotal movement independent of the cradle for anti-aircraft firing, means for locking said side plates in a ground firing position or in a substantially vertical position for anti-aircraft Y firing, an ammunition magazine supporting means secured to one of said side plates and located adjacent the feed channel of the gun when mounted for ground firing, a second ammunition supporting means. pivotally secured to one of said 

